Aches and pains of UO big men

Oregon practiced Monday without freshmen post players Michael Dunigan and Josh Crittle, but both are expected back for Tuesday’s practice as the Ducks prepare for Arizona State on Thursday at McArthur Court.

Dunigan was at the dentist for a root canal (ugh!) and Crittle had an upset stomach, apparently related to something he ate and not an illness.

UO coach Ernie Kent said Dunigan’s sore knee, apparently suffered when he banged it against another player in the game at Oregon State, shouldn’t impact him for practice either. The 6-foot-10 freshman was already wearing tape on his left calf for soreness that developed there last week.

It’s a long season …

Talked to the coach about the playing time for Dunigan and fellow freshman Garrett Sim. Kent said both need to play more. Dunigan was in for 17 minutes against the Beavers, and would have about hit his average of 19 except for leaving with the knee.

For Sim, Kent said the coaches and the player need to show more confidence in his playing. Or does he need to play better to regain that confidence?

Sim was in for six minutes at OSU, his low this season.

Should he have played more? He had three turnovers in those few minutes and one assist. Kamyron Brown had one turnover in 24 minutes, and three assists.

When Kent said Friday he was unsure of his starters, it left me to guess at the opening lineup, which we list with the advance story on games. Why, I was asked, did I have Brown (for Sim) and Crittle (for Dunigan) as starters?

I’m no basketball expert, but that was my perspective from watching a lot of practice on Thursday and Friday. It appeared that Sim was struggling with the scout team’s simulation of OSU’s 1-3-1 pressure more than the other guards. I don’t know if he was less familiar than the others, but he was having the most trouble, and that showed in the game.

As for Crittle, he was the better post player in practice. Then he went 4-of-6 from the field for 10 points at OSU in 27 minutes. Dunigan was 1-of-2 for two points. Neither had much of a rebounding game, Crittle with one and Dunigan with two. That’s somewhat the result of guarding OSU post Roeland Schaftenaar, who pulled the UO big men away from the inside.

I’m not sure Crittle gets enough credit for the improvement he’s made. Whether that continues will determine which freshman starts on Thursday.

That, and Crittle’s stomach ache and Dunigan’s painful tooth.

Bob Clark has covered Oregon basketball over a span of the past six head coaches, from Dick Harter to Dana Altman. He’s watched some of the biggest wins for the Ducks, a couple of trips to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and yes, also the most-lopsided loss ever recorded in McArthur Court.